From the Akron Beacon Journal
Joseph Hillman Carron, 80, died January 31, 2024. A native of Akron and always having lived within a 15-mile radius of where he was born, Joe experienced a full life, ultimately settling in 1989 as a resident of Twin Lakes. As an enthusiastic amateur radio operator (a “ham” since age 12, (K8HTB – “The Happy Teddy Bear”), he achieved the FCC’s highest licensed level and had a penchant for all things mechanical and technical. Joe was also a member of the Portage County Amateur Radio Service. After marriage and two young boys at home, as well as a short stint with the railroad, he settled into a successful 16-year career as a first responder, serving as an Akron Police Officer. While in training, he was selected for a personality feature in the Akron Beacon Journal as one of the new officer cadets in the academy. It was with ease for him to qualify through the police academy weapons training since he was a state championship marksman while on the rifle team at Garfield High School. Also, while with the department, Joe testified as an expert witness for the successful felony prosecution of the first computerized racketeering/gambling case in the nation, (again featured in the Akron Beacon Journal), and was an essential member of a project team that implemented a computerized criminal search engine for the Akron Police Department that has been used for decades. During his tenure on the APD, Joe raced motorcycles as a hobby, attained multiple FAA pilot ratings, and founded Carron’s Flying Service for charter, instruction, and airplane rides at the Kent State Airport. He was an immensely passionate and skilled aviator – never compromising safety in the thousands of hours he logged. Finally leaving the department with his newly developed skill set in the 1980s, Joe became a self-made software and hardware engineer for a variety of companies, founded his own consulting firm, (CFS & Associates), and lastly, retired from a successful engineering tenure with The Timken Company in Canton. More than interests, hobbies, and vocations, Joe enjoyed his family and friends, and over the years with a faith in Christ, (John 3:16), regularly attended The Chapel in Akron as well as Faith Baptist Church in Streetsboro. He was loved and will be truly missed by us all. Preceded in death by his parents, James and Josephine Caughron; daughter, Teresa Caughron, and sister, Mary-Jo Bohnert. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marie Carron; sons, James (Deborah), and Tod Carron; stepsons, Michael (Cathalynn), and Stephen (Dawn) Thompson; grandchildren, Sophia and Olivia Carron, Noah and Gena Thompson, Rose, Magdalene, James, and Sarah Carron; sisters, Carol and Marlene Caughron; brother-in-law, Henry Bohnert; nephew, Adam Bohnert, and niece, Katie (Jake) Neptune. Pastor Don Workman will conduct service, 1 PM, Monday, February 5, 2024, at Redmon Funeral Home 3633 Darrow Road, Stow 44224. Friends may call from 11 AM to service time Monday. Burial Silver Springs Cemetery in Stow. (REDMON, STOW, 330-688-6631)
